Systems and method for ventilating a toilet

ABSTRACT

A ventilation system for a toilet includes a seat that forms a substantially airtight seal with an upper rim of a bowl, an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a conduit coupled to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture. The conduit is coupled at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent the toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates generally to toilets and, more particularly, to ventilation assemblies for toilets.

Many known approaches have been taken that attempt to address the embarrassing and unpleasant problem of toilet order. The most common approach has been to use a ceiling fan to evacuate odor from the bathroom area. Many known ceiling fans are an inefficient solution to the odor problem because such fans may not remove odor directly from a toilet bowl but only the surrounding air in the bathroom. This configuration may cause a stark cooling of the bathroom in winter due to the evacuation of warm air, and may cause an unintended heating of the bathroom in summer due to the evacuation of cooled air. Furthermore, ceiling fans generally require time to clear the fouled air from the bathroom because they imprecisely draw air up several feet from the toilet bowl up to the ceiling, thereby unnecessarily filtering the ambient air of the bathroom.

Some known toilets use a ventilated seat to draw odors from the vicinity of the toilet bowl, and may evacuate odor through an exhaust vent to a remote location such as unused attic space or outdoors. However, such systems incorporate an exhaust fan positioned in or adjacent to the ceiling of the bathroom that is used to evacuate fouled air to the outside atmosphere and is generally controlled by an electrical switch mounted on the wall of the bathroom. Such known ventilated toilet seat assemblies include a toilet seat that has a hollow interior and a plurality of vent apertures permitting communication with the interior of the toilet bowl. An exhaust line is provided at the rear of the toilet seat and cooperates with an exhaust passageway in a mounting block attached to the top of the toilet bowl just in front of the water tank and behind the toilet seat.

Some other known “odorless toilet” systems include an odor eliminating system utilizing an air pump/fan/blower to remove odors from a bowl of a toilet to a trap of the toilet. By moving the odors to the trap, the odors cannot escape back to the bowl and can only proceed out of the toilet to the sewer. The system may be adapted to existing toilets by drilling a channel to the trap or the system may be incorporated into new toilets. The channel may be formed by drilling a channel from the top of the toilet, near the seat into the trap. The outlet tube is then connected to the channel in an airtight manner.

Some other known odorless toilet systems include a toilet with a water driven positive ventilation fan that pumps undesirable odor bearing gases from the toilet bowl area and discharges these gases into a nearby sewer through an auxiliary passage built into the toilet base. Moreover, such systems may employ water valves coupled to the toilet seat and lid hinges that turn on the fan's water turbine when the lid is raised and weight placed on the seat. The fan turbine shuts off automatically when this condition is no longer satisfied. An automatic blocking valve is provided in the auxiliary passage to prevent back-streaming of sewer gas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly there is a need to enhance the attributes of a ventilation system that are configured to remove fouled air from the bowl of a toilet. One exemplary embodiment is directed to a ventilation system for a toilet, wherein the toilet includes a seat and a lid coupled to a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween. The ventilation system includes a first seal element that extends between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl that forms a substantially airtight seal therebetween, a second seal that extends between the seat and the lid that forms a substantially airtight therebetween, an aperture that extends from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a conduit coupled to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture. The conduit is coupled at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent the toilet.

Another exemplary embodiment is directed to a toilet that includes a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween, a seat forming a substantially airtight seal with the upper rim of the bowl, a lid forming a substantially airtight seal with the seat, and a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, and a conduit coupled to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture. The conduit is coupled at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent the toilet.

Yet another exemplary embodiment is directed to a method for ventilating a toilet, wherein the method includes providing a toilet including a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween, forming a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl and between the seat and a lid of the toilet, and extending an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface. The method includes coupling a conduit to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture, and coupling the conduit coupled at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent to the toilet.

Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention. Additional features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments of the present invention may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present invention, alone or in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an exemplary ventilation system for a standard toilet.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the standard toilet shown in FIG. 1 with an exemplary shield element.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the standard toilet shown in FIG. 1 with an alternative shield element.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for ventilating a toilet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an exemplary ventilation system 100 for a standard toilet 102. In the exemplary embodiment, toilet 102 is positioned adjacent to a wall 104 within a lavatory 106 and is operatively coupled to a water source (not shown in FIG. 1) via a water conduit 108. Toilet 102 includes a bowl 110, an upper rim 112, a seat 114 that is coupled to upper rim 112, a lid 115 that is rotatably coupled to seat 114, and a water tank 116 with a cover 118 that is coupled in flow communication with bowl 110 and that is positioned upon a rear ledge 120 of bowl 110. A vent pipe 122 extends substantially vertically along an inner surface 124 of wall 104 and is positioned adjacent to toilet 102. Vent pipe 122 is coupled in flow communication with an external location 126 and enables air from within a sewer (not shown) to be exhausted externally via a suction flow created therein.

In the exemplary embodiment, ventilation system 100 includes a first seal element 130 that extends between seat 114 and upper rim 112, and a second seal element 131 that extends between seat 114 and lid 115. First and second seal elements 130, 131 form a substantially airtight seal between bowl 110 and lavatory 106 when seat 114 and lid 115 are in a closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, first and second seal elements 130, 131 are fabricated from a latex-based material. Alternatively, first and second seal elements 130, 131 may be fabricated from any material that enables ventilation system 100 to function as described herein including, but not limited to, foam, plastic and/or rubber.

Ventilation system includes an aperture 132 that extends from an inner surface 133 of bowl 110 to an outer surface 134 of bowl 110, as described in more detail herein. Ventilation system 100 includes a substantially linear conduit 136 that is coupled at a first end 138 to aperture 132 along outer surface 134 and at a second end 140 to vent pipe 122 for use in exhausting air within bowl 110 to external location 126, as described in more detail herein.

Aperture 132 extends above a water line 142 defined within bowl 110 from inner surface 133 to outer surface 134. More specifically and in the exemplary embodiment, aperture 132 is positioned along a side 144 of bowl 110 and extends substantially parallel to wall 104 from outer surface 134 to inner surface 133. Alternatively, aperture 132 may be positioned along at any location of bowl 110 and extend in any orientation from outer surface 134 to inner surface 133 that enables ventilation system 100 to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, conduit first end 138 is operatively coupled to outer surface 134 of bowl 110 and forms a substantially airtight seal with aperture 132 along outer surface 134. More specifically, first end 138 is coupled to aperture 132 via a friction fit and includes a rubber-based sealing element 146 positioned between first end 138 and aperture 132 to provide a substantially airtight seal therebetween. Alternatively, first end 138 and aperture 132 are couple together using any coupling technique that enables ventilation system 100 to function as described herein including, but not limited to, a welded joint and/or a threaded joint.

Conduit 136 is coupled at second end 140 to vent pipe 122. In the exemplary embodiment, conduit second end 140 is coupled to vent pipe 122 via a T-shaped threaded fitting 148 such that a substantially airtight seal is formed therebetween. Alternatively, conduit second end 140 may be coupled to vent pipe 122 using any pipe fastening technique that enables ventilation system 100 to function as described herein including, but not limited to, bolting, welding, and/or friction fitting. In the exemplary embodiment, conduit 136 includes an inside diameter that ranges from about one inch to about one and one-half inches, and is fabricated from a thermoplastic polymer, i.e., polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Alternatively, conduit 136 may be fabricated from any material and includes any inside diameter that enables ventilation system 100 to function as described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, ventilation system 100 includes a valve 150 that is positioned along conduit 136 and is manually operable between an open and a closed position. In the open position, ventilation system 100 may function as described herein, with an airflow being created from bowl 110 outward through aperture 132, conduit 136 and into vent pipe 122. In the closed positioned, the outward flow of air may be halted, such as for example during periods of non-use.

During operation, ventilation system 100 as described herein enables an airflow to be created between bowl 110 and vent pipe 122 and fouled gases to be evacuated from lavatory 106. More specifically, when aperture 132 and conduit 136 are coupled to vent pipe 122 as described herein, a suction within vent pipe 122 creates a pressure difference that enables fouled gases within bowl 110 to be suctioned therefrom through aperture 132 and conduit 136, and subsequently outward through vent pipe 122 to external location 126. By configuring ventilation system 100 with substantially airtight seal elements 130 and 146, substantially all of the fouled gases may be efficiently withdrawn from toilet and surrounding lavatory 106 via suction to external location 126.

FIG. 2 is cross-sectional internal view of toilet 102 shown in FIG. 1 with an exemplary shield element 200 used with ventilation system 100 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is cross-sectional internal view of toilet 102 shown in FIG. 1 with an alternative shield element 300 used with ventilation system 100 shown in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment and as shown in FIG. 2, ventilation system 100 includes a shield element 200 that is coupled to inner surface 133 of bowl 110 and that is positioned adjacent to aperture 132 such that a quantity of fluid 201 within toilet 102 is substantially diverted from entering the aperture 132. More specifically, shield element 200 is a quarter-sphere shaped element that is positioned adjacent to an upper edge 202 of aperture 132 and that substantially diverts fluid 201 within toilet 102 from entering the aperture 132. In an alternative embodiment and as shown in FIG. 3, alternative shield element 300 is a screen element that is fabricated such that air may pass therethrough, but such that substantially no fluid, i.e., water, may pass therethrough. Shield element 300 is coupled to inner surface 133 of bowl 110 and substantially covers aperture 132 to prevent fluid from exiting bowl 110 through aperture 132.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method 400 for ventilating a toilet. In the exemplary embodiment, method 400 may include providing 402 a toilet that includes a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween, forming 404 a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl, extending 406 an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface, and positioning 408 a shield upon the bowl inner surface and adjacent to the aperture such that fluid within the toilet is substantially diverted from entering the aperture.

Method 400 may include coupling 410 a conduit to the bowl outer surface at a first end, forming 412 a substantially airtight seal with the aperture, and coupling 414 the conduit at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent to the toilet. Method 400 may include positioning 416 a valve on the conduit, wherein the valve is configured to substantially close the conduit during periods of non-us. Method 400 may include channeling 418 fouled air from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe.

In the exemplary embodiment, forming 404 a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl may include extending a seal element between the seat and the upper rim of the bowl. In the exemplary embodiment, extending 406 an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface may include positioning the aperture on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of the toilet.

Exemplary embodiments of toilet ventilation systems are described in detail above. The above-described systems are used to make evacuate fouled air from within a toilet bowl and/or an adjacent region, i.e., the lavatory. More specifically, when a substantially airtight channel is coupled between the inner surface of the bowl of a toilet and vent pipe as described herein, a suction created within vent pipe creates a pressure difference that enables air within bowl to be suctioned from bowl through the channel, and subsequently outward through the vent pipe to an external location. Ventilation system may include substantially airtight seals positioned along the channel further provides an airtight conduit between the toilet and the vent pipe that enables substantially all of the fouled gases to be efficiently withdrawn from the toilet and the surrounding lavatory region via suction to external location.

Moreover, the system and methods described herein overcome many of the deficiencies realized in a fan-based ventilation system. In contrast to a fan-based system, the system complexity and difficulty associated with installation of such systems are substantially reduced. Additionally, the system and methods described herein require no electrical energy to power such fans. As such, the system has substantially higher efficiency when compared to a fan-based system. The system requires only suction created within the vent pipe for its operation, and requires no major changes to existing systems and/or re-certification of existing systems.

Although the apparatus and methods described herein are described in the context of ventilation system for toilets and lavatories, it is understood that the apparatus and methods are not limited to such applications. Likewise, the system components illustrated are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, system components can be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein.

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 

1. A ventilation system for a toilet, said toilet comprising a seat and a lid coupled to a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween, said ventilation system comprising: a first seal element extending between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl and forming a substantially airtight seal therebetween; a second seal element extending between the seat and the lid and forming a substantially airtight therebetween; an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a conduit comprising a first end and a second end, said conduit coupled to said bowl outer surface at said first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with said aperture, said conduit coupled at the second end to a vent pipe, the vent pipe positioned within a wall adjacent said toilet.
 2. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a shield coupled to the bowl inner surface and positioned adjacent to said aperture such that fluid within toilet is substantially diverted from entering said aperture.
 3. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said shield is one of a quarter-sphere shaped element or a screening element configured to substantially diverted fluid within toilet from entering said aperture.
 4. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said substantially airtight seal comprises a seal element that extends between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl.
 5. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture is positioned on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of said toilet.
 6. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduit forms a substantially airtight seal between said toilet and the vent pipe such that fouled air is evacuated from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe.
 7. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a valve positioned on said conduit and configured to substantially close conduit during periods of non-use.
 8. A toilet comprising: a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween; a seat forming a substantially airtight seal with the upper rim of said bowl; a lid forming a substantially airtight seal with the seat; and a ventilation system comprising: an aperture extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and a conduit comprising a first end and a second end, said conduit coupled to said bowl outer surface at said first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with said aperture, said conduit coupled at the second end to a vent pipe, the vent pipe positioned within a wall adjacent said toilet.
 9. A toilet in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a shield coupled to the bowl inner surface and positioned adjacent to said aperture such that fluid within toilet is substantially diverted from entering said aperture.
 10. A toilet in accordance with claim 9 wherein said shield is one of a quarter-sphere shaped element or a screening element configured to substantially diverted fluid within toilet from entering said aperture.
 11. A toilet in accordance with claim 8 wherein said substantially airtight seal comprises a seal element that extends between the seat and the upper rim of said bowl.
 12. A toilet in accordance with claim 8 wherein said aperture is positioned on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of said toilet.
 13. A toilet in accordance with claim 8 wherein said conduit forms a substantially airtight seal between said toilet and the vent pipe such that fouled air is drawn from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe.
 14. A toilet in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a valve positioned on said conduit and configured to substantially close conduit during periods of non-use.
 15. A method for ventilating a toilet, said method comprising: providing a toilet including a bowl having an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim that extends therebetween; forming a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl and between the seat and a lid of the toilet; extending an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface; coupling a conduit to the bowl outer surface at a first end and forming a substantially airtight seal with the aperture; and coupling the conduit at a second end to a vent pipe, wherein the vent pipe is positioned within a wall adjacent to the toilet.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising positioning a shield upon the bowl inner surface and adjacent to the aperture such that fluid within the toilet is substantially diverted from entering the aperture.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein forming a substantially airtight seal between a toilet seat and the upper rim of the bowl further comprises extending a first seal element between the seat and the upper rim of the bowl and extending a second seal element between the seat and the lid.
 18. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein extending an aperture from the inner surface to the outer surface further comprises positioning the aperture on the bowl inner surface at a location above a waterline of the toilet.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising channeling fouled air from the bowl using suction created within the vent pipe.
 20. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising positioning a valve on the conduit, wherein the valve is configured to substantially close the conduit during periods of non-use. 